New laptop

We have the little SanDisk Cruzer sticks, they only protrude 30mm once in the usb socket.

Argos stock them or your can get them from the big computer outlets like this one who also stock the Kingston brand which are also good.
Search Results | CCL

What might be even better for you is one of these Plug and Stay types which seems even smaller.
Search Results | CCL
or if you use amazon etc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077VXV...dcw-gb-1279681230083445000-21&geniuslink=true

 

That looks like a good idea @ricky101 , thanks.

 

@ricky101 Do you have any idea how to stop W11 from turning off the screen & asking for the password every time you leave the computer for more than 5 mins? I've tried several times to get it to not shut down the screen & ask for the password but I haven't managed to stop it from doing so! It's becoming a pain in the neck now! I even went into the Admin account but it made no difference!

 

Try Settings - system -power and battery- screen and sleep.

 

As @pete says the On time is in the Settings pages.

For your password, are you using the Admin Account ? which is the default account from new, or have you set up a User Account, which is much safer.

If you have a User Account then this link shows how to do away with a password, though have yet to try it, but if you remain in your Admin account then you must keep a secure password or similar method as its your only protection if a hacker tries to get into your system.
The only catch with a User Account, is that when running certain tasks the system will ask for your Admin Password before it grant access, which shows the safety system is working.

How to Launch Windows Without Entering a Password

Windows 11 Admin VS Standard User: What Are the Differences?

 

Thanks very much for your replies @pete & @ricky101, but your suggestions didn't work when I tried them before posting by plea for help yesterday!

It wasn't necessary to use the Admin account - I was in my user account & clear forgot that perhaps I should have done it from there.

However I seemed to have "cracked" it today as I was fiddling around with settings. I can't remember how I did it or I would post the steps I took here for others to see who might one day have a similar problem!

For the moment the screen is no longer turning off after 5 mins! As it's only my wife & I at home I've set it for 30 mins before it goes off, though I may reduce it (if I can find the setting I tweaked again that is!) to 10 or 15 mins.

 

Should be straight forwards enough going to Start, Settings, System, Power&Battery then Screen and Sleep which reveals the 4 delay timers you can adjust.

 

@Balc

Should have said those above Settings were from the laptop.

Think you are referring to your desktop which is basically just the same but its just Power instead of Power&Battery and only 2 timer options for you to set.
( only just got our desktop upgraded to w11 today)

 

Well, @ricky101 enjoy setting up your new computer! I've got this one almost dominated now!

 

I'm thinking I'm going to have to get this thing out of "S" mode, my coffee machine needs descaling so I was looking for the instructions online.
I've only got this strange Bing search thing, and when you do a search it just comes up with mostly adverts but after many attempts I think I found what I wanted, but it was a download from the Krupps site.

The stupid thing wont let me download it unless I get rid of "S" mode.

If Microsoft dont sort it out the "S" mode wont be lasting 5 minutes on their stuff.

 

Why don't you get Google Chrome and set it as the default? MS Edge, Bing et al lasted about 2 minutes on my new laptop

 

I was trying to give it a good time to prove its worth, my patience is running thin.

 

A job for tomorrow I think.

 

I don't understand why you're having trouble with Bing searches Pete. I've been using it for years because my old computer wasn't compatible with Google or Firefox. I find the set up of Edge/Bing is very like Google when searching. Perhaps again it may be something to do with the 'S' mode you're having problems with.

The only thing I dislike about Bing is not being able to open links fully for the music thread here on GC and elsewhere.

 

Bit surprised you have not switched out already @pete ?

As the earlier link I showed, it appears to be just a few clicks and you are back to a normal W11 mode instead of the parental S mode.
Just make sure you have Windows Security fully activated.( see Settings, Privacy and Security)
Switching out of S mode in Windows - Microsoft Support